The Osceola times., 1887-11-12
THE CARE OF LAMPS.
now to Clean and Keep Them in q Ser
yiceabie Condition.

should be carefully looked after. for
there are few things that make house
look so untidy and uninviting as i'll
kept lamps Many people will not use
them in sleeping-rooms, preferring to
use the spermacet or wax candles.
They claim that they can not endure
the smell of the oil, which is particu-
larl y offensive after the lamp is blown
out There is no necessity for a lamp
smelling SO as TO be offensive to any
body; and il it is cared for properly it
Will not do so. 1t is best when it can
be done to place either lamp or candle.
when blown out, outside of the Sleep
ing-roomi but if there is an objection
to this, and the lamp remains in tbs
room, there should be no more offensive
smell from it, nor as much. if it is well
cared for, as from candle, and if the
room is well ventilated the most sensi-
tive organization need not feel any an
noyance at the presence Of lamp in
the chamber.
One cause for lamps smelling is the
use OF poor oil. Never use poor oil on
any account; there is only the differ
ence of few cents in the gallon, and
the satisfaction that the best oil give.
outweighs all difference in price. The
oil resembling water most in appear
ance, with slight blush tinge, is con-
sidered the best Another and the
more common cause of the smelling Of
lamps is the clogging of the tiny air.
holes at the base of the burner under
the cap, and the crusting on the inside Of
the cap. The airholes may be cleared
for little while by washing the burner
in hot soap suds, but this will have no
effect on the crust in the cap. 1t will
be as firm as ever. To look at the in
side of the cap there doesn't seem TO
be any thing there, for the crust is
burnt on to the brass so evenly and
smoothly that it is, to all appearances,
part of the cap. To clean the burner
thoroughly, put it in an old tin which
can be kept for this kind of work,
cover with water, throw in a lump OF
washing soda the size of walnut, pll'
on the stove and let all boil together
about ten minutes. Remove the burner
from the water and wipe dry with an
old cloth or paper. If it has been neg.
lected for any length of time, ON the
inside of the cap will be found the
crust so softened that a slight rubbing
with the cloth will remove it. When
thoroughly dried the burner will be as
clean and nice as when first taken
from the store. The soda very often
turns the brass to dark lead color.
giving it an antique look which is liked
by some; but if the bright brass is pre-.
ferred, this may be restored by rub
bing with ammonia and whiting, or
ashes. If soda is not convenient boil
it in good, strong soap-suds and it will
clean it very well. If burners are
cleaned in this way once every two
weeks, which is not too often, they will
not get out of order as easily and will
last a great deal longer, besides insur-
ing bright, clear light free from any
offensive odor.
Try and arrange the work so as TO
clean the lamps the first thing in the
morning after the breakfast dishes
have been washed and put away. for Il
they are left until afternoon. they are
very apt to be forgotten, or, if remem.
bered. they get a careless, hurried clean.
ing. Have a pair of scissors especially
for trimming the wicks, and have then
sharp. Dull scissors are never fit foI
this work. Lift up the cap and cut
off the wick close to the flat tube
through which it passes, and it will be
sure to be straight; then turn up the
wick and cut n small piece from each
corner. which, when the lamp is lii
will give broad, round-cornered
flame. 1t is claimed by some that
chimneys washed in soapsud:
break easier than those washed
in clear water To obyiate this,
if washed in warm soap-suds,
rinse in clear water and there will be
no danger OF their breaking, After
rinsing, let drain Il little while, then
wipe with soft cloth or piece oi
newspaper Once in while wash oui
the inside of the bowl of the lamp with
warm soapsuds to clear it of the sedi.
ment of the oil that settles at the bot.
tom. When trimmed and filled, wipe
well. put on the chimney and turn
down the wick Just below the top Of
the flat tube. 1t is by leaving the wick
above this that causes that little circle
of oil around the cap. and which very
often flows down the outside of the
bowl, necessitating a wiping before be-
ing lit. When lighting the lamp see
that the wick is up only Il short dis.
tanee from the tube. Put on the chin,
ney and let the glass get heated gradu
ally before turning it up to its full
height.
II cloths are used to wipe the lamp.
burn them when through. Don't put
them away thinking to use them again.
They must of necessity be kept in
close place, and are in danger at any
time of firing the house. Many of the
fires with origin unknown We're, nc
doubt. due to carefully concealed lamp
cloths. 1t is better TO use newspaper
for this work. which is much cleaner
and nicer than cloths, and may be
burned without any conscientious scru.
p,,ya, DuJ.fnt
Brick of Pottcd Beef: Three and 4